Word Origin & History

notice early 15c., "information, intelligence," from L. notitia "a being known, fame, knowledge," from notus "known," pp. of (g)noscere "come to know, to get to know, get acquainted (with)," from PIE *gno-sko-, a suffixed form of root *gno- (see know). Sense of "formal warning" is attested from 1590s. Meaning "a sign giving information" is from 1805. The verb is attested from mid-15c., originally "to notify;" sense of "to point out" is from 1620s. Meaning "to take notice of" is attested from 1757, but was long execrated in England as an Americanism (occasionally as a Scottishism, the two crimes ...not being clearly distinguished).